E3 2014 Awards: Best Adventure Game

More Info

Metal Gear has remained a perennial showstopper ever since the series’ transition into the 3D realm back in 1997, and Hideo Kojima’s latest stealth-action effort Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is no exception. Set in an open-world Afghanistan in the year 1984, Snake’s latest adventure looks to build upon the successful formula of this year’s Ground Zeroes, offering more tactical freedom, eye-watering visuals, and an intricate storyline that delves further into this enigmatic hero’s complex history.

With returning favorites such as Miller and Ocelot, The Phantom Pain looks to rewrite the stealth rulebook with a rich, detailed game world to explore and unparalleled strategic freedom. Heck, even Snake’s iconic cardboard box has been revamped, allowing you to subject suspicious foes to a few extra tricks. The enhanced Fulton Recovery system in particular has us intrigued, with Snake able to hoist anything from vehicles to sheep - yes, sheep - back to the Mother Base, which is now fully customizable and a physical component in the game. It’s early days yet, but The Phantom Pain is looking to be the most ambitious Metal Gear Solid title to date.